Yashodhara Bangera
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)
Mangaluru, Dec 1: ‘Alvas Nudisiri’, a national conference celebrating Kannada language and culture was inaugurated by renowned Kannada critic and scholar C N Ramachandran at Moodbidri near here on Friday December 1.
A grand procession depicting the culture and tradition of the land was held prior to the inauguration.
Addressing the gathering during the inaugural programme, Ramachandran said, “The conference being held on the theme 'Pluralism of Karnataka' is apt for the present time. Pluralism is changing into identity politics. Plurality should be achieved with co-existence of several cultures and their growth.
"We can see plurality in everything in a country like India. Another subject that comes along with it is identity. While identity is in one direction, the wide concept of plurality proceeds in another direction. It is necessary to maintain harmony between them," he said.
"Every language, religion, culture and tradition has fought for its survival. When we think of a language, we fight for our own and separate. Differences increase as we become sensitive to our identity. Several groups struggle among themselves to obtain and retain power. We move in opposite directions because of our identity. Our Constitution says that we can live without conflicts. We are given religious equality to achieve plurality," he said.
Dr Nagathihalli Chandrashekar who chaired Alva's Nudisiri in his inspiring speech opened up different dimensions of plurality which he said are necessary for harmony in society. "Scholars around the world have said that destroying plurality amounts to destroying society," he said.
"Plurality is not connected to language or literature. It is in everything. It is condemnable that there are people who oppose plurality. Everything in society should be within limits. We should preserve our identity even when we mix with everybody. We should uphold harmony even when we are based on plurality," he opined.
Dr Chandrashekar in his speech supported the singing of National Anthem. "Our folk songs and the National Anthem reflect our plurality. They are rich in literature. Therefore we should sing the National Anthem as students of literature," he said.
Alva's Foundation chairman Dr M Mohan Alva in his key note address enumerated the objectives of the conference. "We have not restricted the conference to a particular language or literature. We are doing it with the aspirations of integrity. One Nudisiri may not bring much change in the society. But it is our small service for the development of our language, culture and values,” he said.
Books released
Souvenir of Nudisiri 2017 'Vazmaya', Tejaswini Hegde's 'Hamsayana', Abdul Hameed's 'Onti Teppa', Ravishanker Ankur's 'Ettikondavara Koosu', Ganesh Bharadhwaj's 'Nagu' and other works were released on the occasion.
Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Dr Manu Baligar, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA and former minister Abhaychandra Jain, former minister Amarnath Shetty and trustee of the organization Jayashree A Shetty, MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik, Arya Laxmi Narayan Alva, Karnataka Sahitya Parishat former president Harikrishna Punaroor, Moodbidri municipal council's Harinakshi were present.
Procession
Fr F X Gomes of Mulky parish inaugurated the cultural procession as a prelude to Alva's Nudisiri inauguration. Nearly 79 groups participated in the procession. Teams of Kerala, Rajasthan and Janapada groups besides Karnataka were in the procession. Cultural groups from Bhutan and Sri Lanka were a special attraction.